Russian Opposition to Protest Ban on US Adoptions

Creatas/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Not everyone in Russia agrees with the country’s new ban on adoptions to the United States.

Russia’s opposition is siding with the American families affected by the ban, and is planning to protest the law in Moscow. Municipal officials have approved a demonstration in the city center for up to 20,000 people on Sunday.

Late last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the ban into law — part of Russia’s retaliation for a set of human rights sanctions signed by President Obama in December.

Americans have adopted 60,000 Russian orphans over the past 20 years. Russian officials, however, point to the cases of 19 children who died after being adopted.